SC raps AAP govt, says garbage mounds "like Qutub Minar" in Delhi

SC also asked the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators to create awareness about garbage disposal among the people here.

Updated: Friday, October 21, 2016, 19:30 [IST]

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New Delhi, Oct 21: An "alarming" situation prevails in Delhi as the garbage mounds near three landfill sites here are "like Qutub Minar", the Supreme Court today said as it rapped the Delhi government for not doing enough to dispose of the huge quantity of waste.

It also asked the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators to create awareness about garbage disposal among the people here. "Garbage mounds near landfill sites are above 45 metres.

These are almost like towers as like Qutub Minar. Height of Qutub Minar is 73 metres and these mounds are more than half the size. It's an alarming situation. Who is going to deal with it? You (government) have to deal with the problem," a bench of Justices M B Lokur and Adarsh Kumar Goel said.

The observations came when Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar appearing for Delhi Chief Secretary pointed out that near three landfill sites at Okhla, Gazipur and Bhalswa, there are garbage mounds of the height of 45 metres.

The bench asked Delhi government standing counsel Rahul Mehra that the AAP had MLAs across Delhi who could create awareness among the people about garbage disposal.

Mehra said the MLAs have to look after several other responsibilities including construction of drains, sewers and roads in their constitutencies and asking them to create awareness was "just too much". "Don't say that. It has to start from home. Your MLAs, your elected representatives, they should sensitise the people. Don't say that MLAs do not have responsibilities," the bench said.

Mehra contended that garbage collection and disposal was the work of local bodies and not the lawmakers.

"It's a bully who blames others for every problems. You are just blaming everybody. Don't say MLAs do not have any responsibility to keep the city clean," the bench said.

The court while directing that MLAs of Okhla, Gazipur and Bhalswa areas to attend meetings with all stakeholders, also enquired about how much amount does each MLA get for local area development. It was informed that each MLA got Rs 4 crore as local area development fund.

The bench asked the Delhi government that it should be ready for future eventualities and not take measures only when the problem arose. "You have to be ready for the situation. Now that avian flu cases are being reported, Deer Park has been closed. Dengue and Chikungunya cases are now low. You have to be ready for all situations," the bench said.